AstraZeneca trial to compare Crestor and Lipitor

LONDON Jan 15 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca (AZN.L) announced on Tuesday the first head-to-head clinical trial comparing its cholesterol-fighting drug Crestor with Pfizer Inc's (PFE.N) top-selling Lipitor.

The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said the new trial would compare the two drugs' ability to decrease the progression, or induce regression of, atherosclerosis, the main cause of cardiovascular disease, following two years of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease. (Reporting by Mark Potter, Editing by Dan Lalor)